New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-01-09
LA PATR1E SET TO MUSIC,
PERSONAL AND SCENIC FEATURES OF THE
PERFORMANCE.


brought out last night at the Opera House. The
fiction was that the performance was only full
dress rehearsal because had 1t been called by its
real name Of first representation the subscribers
would have had right to their places. Nobody,
not even the manager entered gratis and the money
made for the benefit Of the inundated districts in
Provence cane to S16,SO0. The Rothschilds hired
five boxes which they, being all in mourning sent
to their friends. Leonde Leblanc, who first won,
eighteen years ago, name for seductive charm in
the character of "Rafaela," daughter of the " Due
d Albe" In " La Patrie." was among the notablties
last night. She is now. thanks to the support of q
prominent statesman whose name was in every
mouth during the crisis, an actress of La Francois
l remember to have seen her in {" La Patre"
when it was acted at the Porte ST. Martin before
tho fall of the Empire, and did not think her
wonderfully pretty. She was out of health and
there was a good deal of whispering behind fans
among the ladies at her state Sardou took advant-
age Of her palor and other passing inirmities in
writing for her the part of young girl who came
from her bod Of sickness carried in q chair to beg
of her stern father not to consgn the beaten
Flemish rebels, whom be was sent by Philip H. to
subjugate, TO the hangman. In another scene she
was helped by attendants to walk into her fathers
presence Thereal mOrbdezyo of the actress consider
ably helped TO make the part she played effective.
sonates Dona RafaeIa,' who is Belgian Jewess.
was mauifestly In perfect health. The only thing
feeble about her was her voice, which however is
sweet and goes with the pretty airs and graces
which as the spoiled only daughter of the @Duc
d. Abe" she thinks well TO assume. As those
who took boxes let their friends occupy them
when they could not go themselves there was not
an empty spot in the full dress tiers 81. Floluet
and his wife faced Leonide. NJ. Grevy. owing to
Mime Grevy's illness did not attend. She is quite
knocked over by the death of General Pittie, the
factotum of the President and head OF his military
household
"La Patre" in 1867 had a tremendous success in
Brussels, which then the resort of Frenchmen
hostile to the Empire and Of agents of che Emperor
who were trying to bring about movement for
annexing Belgium to France. Victor Hugo the
Due d. Aumale Louis Blanc, Edgar Quinet and
Rochefort then all there with many other
compatriots of theirs no have since celebrity
IL not then already celebrated. The first night that
Sardvu's patriotic drama was brought out at the
Theatre de la Monnaie the Belgian part OF the
audience was much more critical than enthusiastic
in The early scenes. The Belgian Is scrupulous in
working out details, and he knows the history
thoroughly of the town in which he was born and
bred. The older u is the better he knows it, for
nobody in Belgium from party spirit ever thinks of
debaptizing q street or pulling down IN ancient
building. Legends with which all the old women
are familiar. and through them the children cling
to The antique town-halls belfrys, churches, gate
ways and private houses. 1t cannot be said that
Frenchmen take much trouble to get tho his
tory of any other nation than their own into their
heads. Nor do they unless forced to live among
them take the trouble 10 observe their manners and
customs. There are O good many lapses In Sardou's
rendering of Belgian local color In ala Patrie,'
which made tho patient, laborious and exact
Belgian vince. Hence the Icy demeanor OF the
part Of the audience that was not French. 1t did
not thaw until Madame Fargeuil in the denunca-
ton passage carried away the whole house. The
four spectators who were most borne away were
the Due D'umale, who was in the box OF Anspach
the Burgomaster of Brussels Rochefort. who sat
IN a stale d'6rchestreI Edward Lockroy, now
Minister of Commerce; and Charles Hugo. whose
young and sweet widow Lockroy was destined TO
marry The Due was glad TO hear tie French of
Paris and to catch behind the scenes the peculiar
eflluvia Of boulevard corruption with Leonide
Leblanc. Although so Ill she had her wits about
her and showed herself witty In the green room,
where Madame Fargeuil was absorbed in her part OF
dolores the false wife of the patriot Bur-
gomaster Rysoor," and the mistress of 4" Kar-
loo. an agent Of Philip II. Victor Hugo sat in
font box grave and sombre, ana behind him
is n bundle Of nerves vrithed from sheer misery
whenever he pccped from the wings at the rows of
iuanimato faces which the French Ia the audi
forum were unable to force into a show OF feeling
by their applause. Tho actors were also dis
couragel. Tho Duo dAumae in an entro acte got
himself presented to NJ Sardou, who was too
agItated to be polite Instead of combining his
conversation to the Prince he turned round to the
Burgomaser and said, | hope, sir. that this cold
ness of vo1r foOw-townsmen will not last to tho
end Collness' cried NJ. Anspach. "why then
seemed to mo OF their minds in one of the scenes
They arc "a sluggish people; and they have
suspicion that a French sauce may spoil the
Flemish subject of the piece
The subject of " La Patrie " is 60 be found in
Prescott's work on the revolt of the Gneux against
the tyranny of Spain in tho sixteenth century.
The old Flemish buildings of the meat market the
old beltry aud the costumes which were in vogue
in Brussels 800 years ago lend themselves marvel
lousy we'll to scenic effect. Robeoci and Amabe
were charged with all the stage decorations when
il was decided TO adapt Sardous drama for the
Opera. They went to Bruges to seek inspiration,
brussels and Antwerp being for their purposes
terribly modernizcd. When the curtain rises one
sees street of fourteenth century houses, and the
old market ace covered with snow. 1t IS impossible
for scene painting and arrangement 10 work
greater wonders lot OF Gneux or patriots VINO
have been taken by the Spaniards are trying to
keep up their courage by singing gay MARTA
refrain Here we SEQ the patriotic Burgomaster
Rysoor" who is personated by the baritone Lasalle
"Karloo," Jonas the bell ringer lBcrardi, La
Tremouie," the elegant French nobemsn who is a
prisoner on PAROLE and the sombre limbs OF the law
employed by the Due d Albe. who tried TO
acclimntize the lnqusition in Brussels. Raiaoc."
il borne in In n litter rather in an arm chair
with a foot boarl and suspended on poles. She has
not much to say do beyond showing tender
and humane heart, which bleeds for the captives.
A millionaire thinking of furnishing palace
should 90 to study in La Patrie the interior OF
~ Dvsoor's" bouse and his wife the costume of